1998 FAI Cup Quarter Final Replay - Ballyglass V WFTA
HISTORY MADE AS MAYO CLUB BOOK SEMI-FINAL DATE WITH CUP HOLDERS
Ballyglass’s wall of cheer
BALLYGLASS 1 WFTA 0
It was not pretty, but it was damn special nonetheless.
Ballyglass etched themselves into the annals of Mayo football history on Sunday by securing a place in the penultimate round of the Guinness F.A.I. Junior Cup for the first time.
They put paid to the stern challenge of W.F.T.A., Dublin, with another vintage performance of defensive resilience and character in a lack-lustre, yet tension filled quarter-final replay.
A converted seventh minute penalty by stand-in central defender Ray Prendergast, starting the match in place of the injured Justin Keady in the only change to either side from the drawn game seven days earlier, proved the match-winning strike.
Prendergast, who had not played in the position for seven years, sent goalkeeper Martin Wright the wrong way with his left-footed drive to ensure Ballyglass of becoming only the fourth Mayo club ever to reach the last four of the series.
Now they are scheduled to face Limerick side Fairview Rangers, the defending champions at Terryland Park, Galway, next Sunday in what is likely to be a supreme test of the Mayo side’s renowned steadfastness and endurance.
Watch this space!
It was a pity, nevertheless, that Ballyglass’s biggest and most colourful home match in their 22-year history, watched by a crowd in the region of 1,200 turned out to be such a monotonous affair in terms of entertainment value. Not helped, I have to say, by pedantic refereeing.
Even so, the probability of it matching the quality and exhilaration of the drawn affair at Finglas was always going to be a remote one, however, and the most important aspect, form a Ballyglass point of view, was achieving the right result which their enormous efforts deserved.
Nobody can take it away from them now.
They will forever hold a special place among the elite of local football folklore. Not to mention the fact they are still in with a chance of winning Irish soccer’s most coveted prize.
In the first F.A.I. Junior Cup quarter-final staged at a Mayo venue since Ballina Town’s defeat by St. Michael’s of Tipperary in Westport in March 1974, Ballyglass suffered an early scare.
WFTA winger Stephen Hanna crashed a 25-yard drive off the croddbar following a free-kick by James O’Rourke.
Ballyglass responded by producing their most impressive spell of the match, from an attacking perspective, which lasted almost twenty minutes.
But they could scarcely believe their luck when WFTA defender Francis McKenna committed a needless foul inside his own 18-yard box on deceptive striker Martin Vahey.
Galway referee Eamon Lynch had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, and Ray Prendergast justified the faith placed in his selection by prodding the ball sweetly into the net.
Vahey should have increased the margin for Ballyglass eight minutes later when he was put clean through, but was denied by a splendid Wright save.
Hanna had the ball in the net at the other end moments later, but it was disallowed for a clear infringement on goalkeeper, Declan Prendergast.
WFTA suffered a blow before half-time when full-back Liam McGrane was forced to cry off with concussion following an accidental clash of heads. He was later removed to Mayo General Hospital where he was detained overnight for observation.
The Dubliners lifted their game with the wind at their backs in the second half, and O’Rourke, who scored twice in the drawn match, threatened to produce something special every time he got on the ball.
But he became increasingly frustrated by the strict man-marking job performed on him by outstanding Ballyglass defender, Mark Diskin.
WTFA were certain they had secured the breakthrough they needed in the 65th minute when spirited midfielder Derek Moore headed home a cross from the left by the prominent Hanna.
Their unconfined joy turned to bitter disappointment within seconds when Mr. Lynch ordered a free-out for a breach of offside by Hanna which had been signalled by the referee’s assistant.
WFTA continued to pile on the pressure, however, with Moore and towering substitute Derek Clarke going close with reasonable efforts.
The more the match wore on, the happier Ballyglass seemed to just soak up the pressure.
Ray Prendergast was close to brilliant in his newly rediscovered defensive role, while Colm Burke, still sporting the bandages of a week old head injury, Kenny Staunton and Diskin failed to put a foot wrong.
Joe Reapy and Paul Connolly, in the central midfield position, also contributed hugely to the stunning rearguard action.
Even so, it got extremely tense for the home side in the closing stages.
But they would not be moved.
Ballyglass: D. Prendergast, K. Staunton, M. Diskin, C. Burke, R. Prendergast, P. Connolly, J. Reapy, S. Ring, J. Regan, K. Connolly, M. Vahey,
Sub: S. Hyland (for K. Connolly).
W.F.T.A.: M. Wright, L. McGrane, A. Somers, D. McLean, F. McKenna, G. Kavanagh, L. Ivory, D. Moore, G. Christie, J. O’Rourke, S. Hanna.
Subs: D. Sheehy (for McGrane); D. Clarke (for Christie); B. O Brien (for McKenna).
Ref : E. Lynch (Galway).
*Star Rating: Ray Prendergast….his experience and cool mindedness told.
By Tom Kelly (Connaught Telegraph)
Ballyglass’s wall of cheer
BALLYGLASS 1 WFTA 0
It was not pretty, but it was damn special nonetheless.
Ballyglass etched themselves into the annals of Mayo football history on Sunday by securing a place in the penultimate round of the Guinness F.A.I. Junior Cup for the first time.
They put paid to the stern challenge of W.F.T.A., Dublin, with another vintage performance of defensive resilience and character in a lack-lustre, yet tension filled quarter-final replay.
A converted seventh minute penalty by stand-in central defender Ray Prendergast, starting the match in place of the injured Justin Keady in the only change to either side from the drawn game seven days earlier, proved the match-winning strike.
Prendergast, who had not played in the position for seven years, sent goalkeeper Martin Wright the wrong way with his left-footed drive to ensure Ballyglass of becoming only the fourth Mayo club ever to reach the last four of the series.
Now they are scheduled to face Limerick side Fairview Rangers, the defending champions at Terryland Park, Galway, next Sunday in what is likely to be a supreme test of the Mayo side’s renowned steadfastness and endurance.
Watch this space!
It was a pity, nevertheless, that Ballyglass’s biggest and most colourful home match in their 22-year history, watched by a crowd in the region of 1,200 turned out to be such a monotonous affair in terms of entertainment value. Not helped, I have to say, by pedantic refereeing.
Even so, the probability of it matching the quality and exhilaration of the drawn affair at Finglas was always going to be a remote one, however, and the most important aspect, form a Ballyglass point of view, was achieving the right result which their enormous efforts deserved.
Nobody can take it away from them now.
They will forever hold a special place among the elite of local football folklore. Not to mention the fact they are still in with a chance of winning Irish soccer’s most coveted prize.
In the first F.A.I. Junior Cup quarter-final staged at a Mayo venue since Ballina Town’s defeat by St. Michael’s of Tipperary in Westport in March 1974, Ballyglass suffered an early scare.
WFTA winger Stephen Hanna crashed a 25-yard drive off the croddbar following a free-kick by James O’Rourke.
Ballyglass responded by producing their most impressive spell of the match, from an attacking perspective, which lasted almost twenty minutes.
But they could scarcely believe their luck when WFTA defender Francis McKenna committed a needless foul inside his own 18-yard box on deceptive striker Martin Vahey.
Galway referee Eamon Lynch had no hesitation in pointing to the penalty spot, and Ray Prendergast justified the faith placed in his selection by prodding the ball sweetly into the net.
Vahey should have increased the margin for Ballyglass eight minutes later when he was put clean through, but was denied by a splendid Wright save.
Hanna had the ball in the net at the other end moments later, but it was disallowed for a clear infringement on goalkeeper, Declan Prendergast.
WFTA suffered a blow before half-time when full-back Liam McGrane was forced to cry off with concussion following an accidental clash of heads. He was later removed to Mayo General Hospital where he was detained overnight for observation.
The Dubliners lifted their game with the wind at their backs in the second half, and O’Rourke, who scored twice in the drawn match, threatened to produce something special every time he got on the ball.
But he became increasingly frustrated by the strict man-marking job performed on him by outstanding Ballyglass defender, Mark Diskin.
WTFA were certain they had secured the breakthrough they needed in the 65th minute when spirited midfielder Derek Moore headed home a cross from the left by the prominent Hanna.
Their unconfined joy turned to bitter disappointment within seconds when Mr. Lynch ordered a free-out for a breach of offside by Hanna which had been signalled by the referee’s assistant.
WFTA continued to pile on the pressure, however, with Moore and towering substitute Derek Clarke going close with reasonable efforts.
The more the match wore on, the happier Ballyglass seemed to just soak up the pressure.
Ray Prendergast was close to brilliant in his newly rediscovered defensive role, while Colm Burke, still sporting the bandages of a week old head injury, Kenny Staunton and Diskin failed to put a foot wrong.
Joe Reapy and Paul Connolly, in the central midfield position, also contributed hugely to the stunning rearguard action.
Even so, it got extremely tense for the home side in the closing stages.
But they would not be moved.
Ballyglass: D. Prendergast, K. Staunton, M. Diskin, C. Burke, R. Prendergast, P. Connolly, J. Reapy, S. Ring, J. Regan, K. Connolly, M. Vahey,
Sub: S. Hyland (for K. Connolly).
W.F.T.A.: M. Wright, L. McGrane, A. Somers, D. McLean, F. McKenna, G. Kavanagh, L. Ivory, D. Moore, G. Christie, J. O’Rourke, S. Hanna.
Subs: D. Sheehy (for McGrane); D. Clarke (for Christie); B. O Brien (for McKenna).
Ref : E. Lynch (Galway).
*Star Rating: Ray Prendergast….his experience and cool mindedness told.
By Tom Kelly (Connaught Telegraph)
